Afghan, international forces help villagers after operation

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

03.19.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

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By Sgt. Debra Richardson

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition soldiers recently visited the village of Kandu-Ye Bala, in the Kajran District of Uruzgan province, to distribute condolence payments and assist the people following an incident involving the tragic death of several villagers.

The team was greeted by elders and served hot chai before being asked about events leading up to civilian casualties two weeks ago.

"We are grateful you have taken the time to be here with us today," remarked a village elder. "This is the fourth time civilians from my village have been killed or wounded by coalition forces. This is the first time anyone has shown up to assist during our suffering, and for that, we are thankful."

The Afghan national police commander and the Special Forces commander vowed to explain the incident and offer condolences at a later Shura when the family members of the deceased would be present.

"We are here to help you," the coalition forces commander explained. "With your permission we have a few projects we would like to start today."

With the village elder's permission, 30 men were hired to carry the humanitarian assistance and medical supplies that had been dropped by an aircraft in a wheat field to the village center. Another 20 men were hired to clean out a drainage canal leading into the village. The men were hired through a civil affairs project called cash for work, which allows international troops to hire local villagers to work on small projects for the overall improvement of the village.

With the men hard at work, a compound was rented from a local villager to host a medical outreach program designed to provide immediate medical attention and distribute medicine as needed. Two rooms inside the compound were converted to exam rooms. Two Afghan doctors were in attendance as well as a coalition forces female nurse and four SF medics.

Villagers waited patiently as coalition soldiers examined patients, provided medicine and distributed humanitarian assistance while ANP patrolled the village, inviting men, women and children to attend the medical outreach program.

"Many of the children suffer from malnourishment," explained the coalition nurse as she distributed eye drops to an elderly woman and lotion to two small children. "Many of these women are struggling to produce enough breast milk to feed them. I've handed out hundreds of packets of multi-vitamins for the moms and the babies. Even though this is a rural area and most families raise goats and sheep, they don't eat much meat, preferring to sell their livestock at market and live off rice and bread."

As sunset approached, the remaining men and women waiting to be seen were ushered home with promises to continue the next day at first light.

As the coalition forces gathered inside the rented compound, huddled around a fire, the village elder ushered in five men carrying huge pots of rice, potatoes and boiled goat.

"Thank you for coming here today, for being our guests," he said. "Tonight, we welcome you to eat this food and know you are among friends."

The team began the second day's events early, hoping to beat the midday sun. At first light, shepherds herded more than 1,000 animals to receive veterinarian treatment. The majority of the animals, consisting of sheep, goats, cattle and camels, were a little under-weight but appeared to generally be in good health, said the coalition veterinarian.

"I'm exhausted," he exclaimed wiping de-wormer off his shirt after a baby goat spit it back up on him. "The villagers are doing a great job of helping us hold the animals, but the donkeys and especially the camels are feisty and it feels like we're part of a rodeo, without the points."

The second day of medical evaluations was a success, with the final count of patients treated reaching 650. By noon, all supplies were depleted, with nearly every family receiving pre-packaged Halal meals, toiletries and various articles of clothing and shoes.

The setting of the sun also brought the final, and most important, shura with village elders and the families of those killed.

The men listened attentively as the SF commander calmly explained the events that lead to the deaths of their family members. He offered his condolences and assured the families that the ongoing investigation into the circumstances behind the tragic mistake will bring changes to help prevent incidents of this type from happening again.

"I, too, am truly saddened by their deaths," he explained, speaking directly to two brothers of two of the men killed. "Although I didn't know them, I will always remember them."

Since September 2003, the U.S. military has had the ability to give a condolence payment to families suffering a death, injury or property damage due to U.S. forces. The payments are considered a gesture of sympathy only, given to ease the pain of the family. The payments are not meant as an admission of fault or negligence.

The brothers of three of the deceased were each given an envelope containing roughly five times the average yearly income for an Afghan citizen. The men expressed their gratitude for the payment and for the explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding their brother's death.

"This money will help us pay for food and clothes for their children," they said, explaining that the men have taken in their brothers' family and will continue to support and care for them in their brothers' absence.

During a previous shura, the coalition forces commander learned that a group of family members live to the north of Kandu-Ye Bala and was unable to travel to receive their condolence payments. As a result, a group of coalition soldiers flew to their village to meet with them.

The SF commander conducted another Shura to explain the circumstances leading to the death of their family members. Condolence payments were distributed and the families expressed their gratitude.

Back in Kandu-Ye Bala, two young boys who were injured during the incident were flown back to the village via helicopter after receiving treatment at a coalition hospital.

The fathers of the two were also provided condolence payments for their sons' injuries.

"We came here to re-establish rapport with the people of Kandu-Ye Bala and the people of the Kajran District and this was accomplished far better than we expected," noted the coalition forces commander after completing the final shura before departing the village. "We talked to the people and demonstrated we're here to help them, and that's what they needed to see."